Latest from Sierra Alvarez
Honor your ‘mother’: Working to keep traditional ways, types of Hopi corn
MAYER – Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a farmer from the Hopi Tribe, is focusing on bringing Hopi corn back to the dining table – not only for the health benefits but also to connect his people to their culture.
No more silence: Boarding school survivor Anita Yellowhair shares her story, over 60 years later
Anita Yellowhair is a Navajo woman and a boarding school survivor. Yellowhair left her home and family in 1950, stripped of her identity and forced to assimilate into American culture alongside other Indigenous children.
Phoenix nonprofit addresses need for children’s respite, hospice care
PHOENIX – One of three pediatric hospice homes in the United States, Ryan House provides respite, palliative and hospice care to children with chronic illnesses. The nonprofit addresses how to meet the needs of these children in a space with few solutions.
Gas guzzler: Gas prices jump in Arizona to $4+ and rising
PHOENIX – Gas prices have been steadily increasing in Arizona since March. AAA’s gas prices markers show the average price per gallon in Arizona on Monday was 79 cents higher than the national average.
From ‘lonely’ to Lily’s Pad: Tempe playground to give immunocompromised kids a chance to be a kid
PHOENIX – Children with weakened immune systems or other disabilities often can’t play with other kids. Lily’s Pad, a new playground scheduled to open in Arizona in April, is designed to help immunocompromised children build their physical and emotional health. It’s among other recreational areas across the U.S. meant to accommodate children with disabilities.
Dementia’s dangerous rise leads legislators to ask up to $500,000 for Alzheimer’s
PHOENIX – Arizona legislators and Alzheimer’s advocates call for the state to step up in dementia care, proposing several bills, including one to bring $500,000 to AZDHS. Arizona has the fastest growth rate in the U.S. of people 65+ diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a national Alzheimer’s Association 2023 report.
Black artists connect family, culture and history
PHOENIX – Black art is the great connector – of humanity, of Black history, of family, culture and a vision of life’s value and purpose, according to several Arizona artists who paint, sculpt and create.
‘It’s so joyful’: Chandler Symphony Orchestra relishes return to in-person performances
TEMPE – The Chandler Symphony Orchestra kicked off its 29th season in October after a pandemic-induced hiatus with masks, distancing and an audience.
‘I was struggling to survive’: Event raises awareness for suicide prevention
PHOENIX – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks suicide as the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. – responsible for more than 47,500 deaths in 2019.
Hope and resilience in action: Navajo Nation continues battle against COVID
TUBA CITY – Residents of Tuba City on the Navajo Nation remain active in battling COVID-19, and they reflect on the hardships and hope that accompanied them for the past year and a half.
Cindy McCain, Charles Barkley, others celebrate ‘extraordinary life’ of Grant Woods
PHOENIX – Cindy McCain, Charles Barkley and others spoke at a memorial service celebrating the life of former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, who died Oct. 23 at age 67.
A history of the British WWII pilots who learned to fight Nazis in Arizona
MESA – An inside look at the history and significance of the No. 4 British flight training school located at Falcon Field in Mesa.
A pound for an ounce: Cave Creek stamp mill celebrates Arizona’s gold mining history
CAVE CREEK – Cave Creek Museum is home to a fully operational stamp mill that was used to extract gold more than a century ago. The Arizona Gold Mining Experience offers a glimpse into what it was like to be an Arizona miner in 1910.
The pandemic blew up home gardening, but will the trend wither on the vine?
PHOENIX – The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Americans to take on new hobbies. Gardening was one of the hottest trends of the year.
On Halloween, real witches set the record straight
PHOENIX – The stereotype of warty noses, black-brimmed hats and cauldrons of evil spells come to mind when thinking about witchcraft, but for real-life practitioners this is far from the truth.
New law prohibits vehicles blocking sidewalks, punishable by a $250 fine
PHOENIX – A new law makes blocking sidewalks with vehicles a crime, meant to keep walkways clear for all pedestrians. It was one of 12 laws that took effect Wednesday.
Maricopa election probe is complete, but fight may just be starting
WASHINGTON - After months of work and millions of dollars, the contractors investigating Maricopa County's elections were able to answer one question Friday - President Joe Biden did win. Otherwise, they spent hours raising questions and calling for more investigation.
Expanded Child Tax Credit program did a ‘world of good,’ politicians say
PHOENIX – Since its rollout in July, the expanded Child Tax Credit program has received praise from government officials and advocates who call it a solution to “combating economic hardship and poverty in Arizona.”
Valley traffic returns, carbon emissions rise as COVID-19 restrictions ease
PHOENIX – COVID-19 reduced road traffic to unknown lows, but now it’s returning in full force. After carbon emissions dropped during a year of less travel, will they return to problematic levels?
Tempe Healing Field returns for 20th anniversary of 9/11
TEMPE – The Tempe Healing Field 9/11 memorial is being held at Tempe Beach Park, to remember the nearly 3,000 people lost during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
On the crawl: Why so many caterpillars are wriggling around Arizona
PHOENIX — Arizona’s wet monsoon season helped spawn thousands of plump yellow caterpillars around the state. The caterpillars now are looking for a place to become white-lined sphinx moths.
